The early church · Acts 5
The Apostles Before the Sanhedrin: Gamaliel’s Advice
In Jerusalem, the apostles perform many miracles. Filled with jealousy, the high priest and the party of the Sadducees throw them into the public jail. During the night, an angel opens the doors: “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.” In the morning, the Sanhedrin sends for the prisoners: they cannot be found, because they are already teaching in the temple! Brought before the judges, Peter and the apostles answer: “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Furious, the judges want to put them to death. Then Gamaliel, a Pharisee and a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stands up. He reminds them of Theudas and Judas the Galilean, whose followers were scattered, and advises letting these men go: if their work is from God, “you will not be able to overthrow it.” The apostles are flogged and released; they leave rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus.
What happens
- Out of jealousy, the Sadducees throw the apostles in jail Acts 5:17–18
- An angel opens the doors: “Tell the people all the words of this life” Acts 5:19–20
- “We ought to obey God rather than men” Acts 5:29
- Furious, the judges want to put them to death; Gamaliel stands up Acts 5:33–34
- “If it is of God, you cannot overthrow it” Acts 5:38–39
- Flogged, the apostles leave rejoicing Acts 5:40–41
Who is in this story
The lesson
What comes from God cannot be stopped by men: neither prison nor beatings can keep the gospel from advancing. The apostles obey God rather than men and find their joy in suffering for the name of Jesus.
And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
Quick quiz on this story
Who opens the prison doors during the night to let the apostles out?
“The angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth,” and told them to tell the people “all the words of this life.” Acts 5:19–20
Which member of the Sanhedrin advises letting the apostles go?
A Pharisee named Gamaliel, “a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people,” stands up in the Sanhedrin and has the apostles taken outside for a little while before he speaks. Acts 5:34
What punishment do the apostles receive after Gamaliel’s advice?
The judges agree with him: they have the apostles flogged, order them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Acts 5:40
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